I fell in love with football as I would later fall in love with women: suddenly, uncritically, giving no thought to the pain it would bring. For many people watching football is mere entertainment; to some it's more like a ritual; but to others, its highs and lows provide a narrative to life itself.
For Nick Hornby's devotion to the game has provided one of the few constants in a life where the meaningful things, like growing up, leaving home and forming relationships, have rarely been as simple or as uncomplicated as his love for Arsenal.